Fluid dispensing means



Sept. 28, 1943. R. 'r. PARKER FLUID DISPENSING MEANS Filed June 18, 1940 Lmnentor For T. PARKER Patented Sept. 28, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,330,616 FLUID DISPENSING MEANS Roy T. Parker, Cleveland. Heights, Ohio Application June is, 1940, Serial No. 341,090

11 Claims.

This invention relates to. apparatus for filling areceptacle or container with a fluid. More particularly this invention relates to apparatus for filling closed containers, such as tank cars, tank wagons, storage tanks, storage batteries, automobile gasoline tanks, and the like.

One object of my invention is to provide a device for filling a con'tainerwith a fluid which tear metwith in commercial usage.

Further objects and advantages of my invention. will be apparent from the description to follow and from the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a sideelevation partially in section of: one form of'my invention.

2 is a plan view of a part of the latching mechanism shown in- Fig. 1.

Fig, 3 is a fragmentary view" to larger size of l apart of Fig. 1.

,Fig. 4 is a fragmentaryside elevation view in section showing a modified construction of apart of the device shown in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view to larger size 0 a part of Fig. 4.

, I have illustrated. my invention in a; form particularly adapted to the filling of automobile tanks with gasoline. As. known, the usual filling means now employed consists of a flexible hose. one end. of which is attached to-a suitable pump and the other to a nozzle adapted to be inserted in an. opening in the gasoline tank. The nozzle is ordinarily provided with a normally closed valve, which itis necessary for an attendant to manually hold inthe open position during the filling operation. With the nozzle in place it is impossible for the attendant to know when the gasoline tank is filled,. and in order to prevent overfilling it is necessary to stop the flow of gasoline and. remove the. nozzle several times as the level of gasoline approaches the top of the tank in order to observe the condition of the tank. Thusthe filling operation as now performed consumes considerable time which the attendant could otherwise put to good advantage. Furthermore, 'even with the utmost care the attendant is likely to overestimate the remaining capacity of the tank and permit the tank to overflow, thus wasting considerable gasoline and creating a fire hazard. I have chosen to illustrate and describe this particular form of my invention solely because of the awareness of practically everyone to this condition. My invention, as will be evident, as the description proceeds, is however adaptable 'to a wide variety of other uses.

Referring to Fig. 1, I therein show a nozzle generally indicated at I, the inlet 2 of which may be connected to a suitable source of gasoline supply under pressure, such as a gasoline pump (not shown) by means of a flexible hose or pipe. ,The discharge end 3 of the nozzle is adapted to be inserted in the opening provided in the gasoline tank. Usually the gasoline tank is. provided with a filler spout such as illustrated at 4, and in which I show the discharge end 3 of the nozzle'inserted.

In the nozzle I between the inlet and discharge ends is a valve 5 normally urged by a compression spring 6 to a closed position against an annular seat I. The valve 5 may be lifted to an open position, however, by a manually operable lever 8. As shown more clearly in Fig. 2 the lever B has a bifurcated section, the legs 8A and 8B of which are pivotally mounted by pins 9 on opposite. sides of a housing III which preferably is formed integral with the nozzle I. The bifurcated section of the lever B carries a platform I I which upon the lever 8 being moved upwardly engages a stem I2 adapted to lift the valve 5 from its seat I to an open position.

With the usual filling nozzle throughout the filling operation, it is necessary for an attendant to manually hold a shut off valve corresponding to the valve 5 in open position. However, in accordance with my invention I provide a latching means which holds the valve .5 in a wide open position until released bymeans hereinafter to be described. In the specific embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1 the latching means is shown as comprising a plunger I4, normally urged to the left as shown in the drawing by the inherent resiliency of an expansible bellows or Sylphon I3 mounted in thehousing I0, and having an upwardly extending finger I5. Upon the platform I I being manually positioned upwardly by means of the lever 8 until it clears the finger I5 the plunger I4 will shift to the vleft under the influence of the Sylphon I3 carrying the finger I5 under the platform ll so that thereafter the valve will remain in the wide open position.

One end of the plunger I4 is loosely journaled in a wall of the housing It and the other end pivotally. supported by a manually operable trigger l6 pivotally fastened to a lug IBA formed integral with the nozzle I. The trigger It provides an auxiliary or emergency release for tripping the latching means so that the valve 5 may be returned to the closed position. Upon the trigger I6 being positioned in a counter-clockwise direction the plunger I l will be positioned to the right so that the finger 55 will slip from under the platform H thus permitting the stem I2 to move downwardly and the valve 5 to closed position.

It is evident that by virtue of the fact that the pivot connection between the plunger I4 and trigger I6 is immediately adjacent the finger I5 the lateral thrust of the plunger I I against the wall of the housing It! in which it is journaled will be insignificant, so that friction Will not impede the positioning of the plunger I4 by the bellows or Sylphon I3. It is further evident however that the natural resiliency of the Sylphon I3 urging the plunger I4 to the left may be fortified by a compression spring or other suitable means as will be evident to those skilled in the art.

The outlet 3 of the nozzle I is provided with a closure member I! for sealing the opening in the gasoline tank when inserted therein. The opening of the usual gasoline tank is provided with a bayonet fitting comprising spaced, sloping projections, such as illustrated at I8. The closure member I! may therefore. conveniently be provided with lugs I9 adapted to engage the projections I8and upon angular movement 'of the closure member I! relative to the outlet 3 force the former against the annular seating surface surrounding the opening. As illustrated the closure member I1 may be provided with a suitable packing to engage the seating surface of the opening, so that a substantially air or gas tight connection may be quickly and conveniently tformed betweenthe outlet 3 and opening in the ank.

During the filling operation, that is, while fluid is being discharged into the tank, air or gas within the tank displaced by the fluid is vented through a suitable vent pipe leading from the outlet of the discharge'end 3 to the atmosphere above the closure member I1. As shown in Fig; 1 and in Fig. 3 to larger size the lower end of the vent pipe 20 is closed by a sloping wall 30 which is likewise closed at its lower end by a piece 3I thus forming a pressure tight chamber 32. Air or. gas vented from the receptacle being filled is admitted to the chamber 32 through an orifice 33 in the wall of the outlet 3 and discharged therefrom into the vent pipe 20 through an orifice' 34 in the wall 30.

The orifice 34is provided with a closure member comprising a flexible-reed 2| adapted to close the orifice upon the fluid being discharged into the tank or receptacle entering the chamber 32 through the orifice 33. The reed 2I is of sufii cient length so that the fluid entering the chamber 32 through the orifice 33 impinges directly thereupon. So long as air or gas is being vented the force produced by the jet striking the reed is insufficient to move it against the orifice 34, however, upon a jet of heavier fluid such as gasoline striking the reed 2| the force will be sufiithrough the vent pipe 20.

Upon the sealing of the orifice 34 by the reed 2I the pressure within the tank and discharge end 3 of the nozzle will increase. This will be evident from the fact that the closure member N forms a pressure tight connection with the filler spout ll and that the valve 5 is open so that fluid is being discharged into the tank. In accordance with my invention I utilize such increase in pressure to automatically release the latching means thereby closing the valve 5 and stopping further flow of fluid into the tank whereby overfilling is prevented.

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be noted that the bellows I3 forms with the interior wall of the housing It a pressure tight chamber in communication with the nozzle I through a channel 22. The natural or inherent resiliency of the bellows I3 is such thatwith the normal pressure existing within the nozzle I while fluid is flowing therethrough and the vent pipe 23 isopen the plunger I4 is urged to the left. When, however, the vent pipe 29 is closed causing the heretofore described increase in pressure within the nozzle I which is communicated to 'the' bellows I3 through channel 22 a suflicient force is created to position the bellows and plunger I4 to the right thereby releasing the latching means and permitting the valve 5 to move to closed position. It will be observed that by my invention after an operator has initially started the filling operation by operating the lever 8 no further attention on his part is required, the mechanism acting to automatically shut oh the 'flow of fluid when the tank becomes filled or the level therein reaches a predetermined height as determined by the position of the orifice 33 relative to the opening in the filler spout 4. It will further be observed that the trigger I6 provides a means for stopping the flow of fluid to the tank or receptacle being filled at any time prior to'the complete filling thereof. I

It will be evident that various other types of closure members for the ventpipe 20 may be utilized, and in Figs. 4 and 51 illustrate an alternate form comprising a float valve 23 having pin projections 24 journaled in suitable bearings formed in the vent pipe 20. Normally the float valve 23 is by gravity positioned toward the outlet of the discharge end 3 so that air displaced by the fluid passes through an orifice 25 into the vent pipe and is exhausted to the atmosphere through an opening 26. When, however, gasoline passes through the orifice 25 into the vent pipe 20 therebylincreasing the buoyancy of the float valve 23, it is positioned upwardly so that its upper end 21 seats against a suitable surface 28 formed in the vent pipe 28, thereby sealing ofi communication with the atmosphere and causing the pressure within the tank and nozzle I to increase.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4 I also provide a means whereby the Sylphon I3 does not come into direct contact with the fluid being dis charged into the tank. Such a construction, it will be evident, is particularly valuable where the fluid being discharged would have a deleterious effect upon the Sylphon I3 and other associated parts. Therein I show the channel 22 communicating with a pipe 29 leading to an opening 30A in the discharge end 3 of the nozzle below the, closure member I! but above the orificei25. .The arrangement such that prior to the time thatgstheffiuidireaches the level of the opening; MAE the. pressure within the tank will increase sufliciently to causeithe. plunger"! 4 to be positioned to" the. right, thereby permitting the valve 5 to move: to the: closed. position- E'While I have: shown the' vent pipe Zilas being within theznozzleii it will-be. apparent that if desired it may forminaseparateconnection to the tank. automatically cr'irman'ually closed .upon. the level: of the. fiui'dlthereintreaching a predetermiired-rheight; Likewiselllmay providesother designs of: latching arrangement. releasable upon theupressure within the tank: reaching apredetermined value. suchsmodifications willibe obviousito. those skilled infrthe art: and it'willi be evident that other changes; as well, may be made without departing from'thescope-or spirit of myimtenti'onr" What'I'claim as new,..e.ndi desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1.! Apparatus for filling a substantially air tight container having an opening through which liquid may be admitted, in combination, a closure member adapted to substantially seal said opening and provided with a nozzle through which the liquid to be discharged into the container passes, a normally closed valve in said nozzle, manually operable latching means for holding said valve in the open position, a vent pipe in said nozzle having an opening to the atmosphere for releasing the air from the container displaced by the liquid discharged therein, means responsive to the level of liquid in said container for closing said vent and thereby causing the pressure in said container to increase, pressure sensitive means for releasing said latching means to close said valve, and a pressure transmitting connection between saidnozzle and pressure sensitive means.

2. A filling device, in combination, a conduit, a normally closed valve in said conduit, a latching means for holding said valve in open position, a pressure sensitive device for automatically releasing said latching means to permit the valve to return to closed position, a pressure transmitting connection between said conduit and pressure sensitive device, a vent pipe having an opening to the exterior of said conduit, and liquid level responsive means for sealing said vent pipe.

3. A filling device, comprising in combination, a conduit, a normally closed valve in said conduit, latching means for holding said valve in the open position, a pressure sensitive device for automatically releasing said latching means to permit said valve to return to the closed position, a pressure transmitting connection between said conduit and said pressure sensitive device, a vent pipe having an opening to the exterior of said conduit, and valve means for closing said vent pipe.

4. A filling device, comprising in combination a manually closed valve, a discharge nozzle connected to the outlet of said valve, manually operable latching means ior holding said valve in the open position, pressure sensitive means for releasing said latching means to permit said valve to return to the closed position, a pressure transmitting connection between said pressure sensitive means and said discharge nozzle, a vent pipe within said nozzle extending from the end of said discharge nozzle remote from said valve and opening to the exterior of said nozzle at a point adjacent said valve, and a flexible closure member for said vent pipe adapted to seal the end of said 'i vent pipe 'adi acent the said remot end of said nozzle.

5. Afilling device comprising in combination, a manually closed. valvle, a. discharge nozzle con- 5 nected to: the outlet ofsaidvalve, a latching means opening to the exterior of. said nozzle, and liquid level: responsive meanstor sealing said vent pipe.

6; Apparatus forrfilli'ngasubstantially air tight container having-an: opening through which liquid may be admitted, in combination, a closure member. adapted to substantially seal said, opening and provided? a, nozzle-through which the liquid to be discharged into the container passes, a normally closed. valve in. said. nozzle, manually operablevlatchmg means for; holding said valve in the. openposition, a vent pipe having an open--.

ing to the atmosphere for releasing the air from the container displaced by the liquid discharged therein, means responsive to the level of the liquid in said container for closing said vent and thereby causing the pressure in said container to increase, pressure sensitive means for releasing said latching means to close said valve, and a pressure transmitting connection between said nozzle and pressure sensitive means.

'7. A filling device comprising in combination, a normally closed valve, a discharge nozzle connected to the outlet of said valve, a latching means for holding said valve in the open position, pressure sensitive means for releasing said latching means to permit said valve to return to the closed position, a pressure tranmitting connection between said pressure sensitive means and said discharge nozzle, a'vent pipe having an opening to the exterior of aid nozzle, and liquid level. responsive means for sealing said vent pipe.

8. Apparatus for filling a substantially air tight container having an opening through which a liquid may be admitted, in combination, a closure member adapted to substantially seal said opening, a nozzle in said closure member through which the liquid to be discharged into the container passes, a normally closed valve for regulating the flow of liquid through said nozzle, manually operable latching means for holding said valve in the open position, a vent pipe carried by said nozzle having an opening to the atmosphere for releasing the air in said container displaced by the liquid discharged therein, a closure member for said vent pipe comprising a reed positioned adjacent the opening in said vent pipe within said nozzle and adapted to permit the escape of air through said vent pipe but sealing said vent pipe upon liquid entering therein, a pressure responsive element sensitive to the pressure within said container for releasing said latching means to close said valve, and a pressure transmitting connection between said pressure responsive element and said nozzle.

9. Afilling device comprising in combination,

a conduit, a normally closed valve in said conduit, a latching means for holding said valve in open position, a pressure sensitive device for automatically releasing said latching means to permit the valve to return to closed position, a pressure transmitting connection between said conduit and pressure sensitive device, a vent pipe within said conduit having two openings to the exterior of said conduit, and liquid level exterior of said conduit, and a closure member for said vent pipe comprising a reed positioned adjacent one of the openings in said vent pipe and adapted to permit the escape of gas through said vent pipe but sealing said vent pipe upon liquid entering therein.

11. Apparatus for filling a substantially air tight container having an opening through which a liquid may be admitted, in combination, a closure member adapted to substantially seal said opening, a nozzle in said closure member through which the liquid to be discharged into the container passes, a normally closed valve for regulating the flow of liquid through said nozzle, manually operable latching means for holding said valve in the open position, a vent pipe hav ing an opening to the atmosphere for releasing the air in said container displaced by the liquid discharged therein, means adapted to permit the escape of air through said vent pipe but preventing the escape of liquid therethrough comprising a chamber having a first orifice opening into said container and a second orifice opening into said vent pipe through which the air to be discharged through said vent pipe passes and a flexible reed disposed in said chamber between said, orifices so that liquid dischargedrfrom said first orifice causes said reed to seal said second orifice; and a pressure responsive element sensitive to the pressure within said container for releasing said latching means to close said valve.

ROY T. PARKER. 

